England - Premier League
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Played
September 10, 2011 3:00 PM BST
Etihad Stadium — Manchester
Referee:‬ M. Atkinson‎
Attendance:‬ 46509‎
 
13′ Sergio Agüero
 
63′ Sergio Agüero
 
69′ Sergio Agüero
 

Premier League Preview: Manchester City - Wigan

The hosts will be hoping to continue their fantastic start to the season and follow up on their mauling of Spurs as they host an improving Latics outfit at the Etihad Stadium

By Jonathan Birchall

More On :  Manchester City FC, Wigan Athletic, Manchester City FC vs Wigan Athletic

PROBABLE LINEUPS
MANCHESTER CITY

Hart
Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy
Barry, Yaya Toure
Silva, Nasri, Aguero
Dzeko
WIGAN ATHLETIC
 
Al-Habsi
Boyce, Caldwell, Lopez, Figueroa
Moses, Gomez, Diame, McCarthy, Crusat
Rodallega

Samir Nasri is set to make his home debut for Manchester City despite having picked up a suspected broken finger on international duty with France and Micah Richards, who left the England squad after complaining about a tight hamstring, is also expected to get the nod from Roberto Mancini.

Nigel De Jong, on the other hand, may not be risked in the centre of midfield after he pulled out of international duty with the Netherlands due to an ankle knock.

Wigan will travel to the Etihad Stadium with a fairly clean bill of health, with only long-term absentees Steve Gohouri and Antolin Alcaraz unavailable for selection. Roberto Martinez may exercise caution and opt for a five-man midfield and therefore leave Franco Di Santo and new boy Shaun Maloney on the bench.

Alcaraz's injury may open the door for Patrick van Aanholt to make his Latics bow but with the Spanish manager having spoken of his desire to ease the Chelsea loanee into the team slowly, Adrian Lopea is more likely to start in the centre of defence. The visiting fans may well see a debutant start, however, with former Almeria winger Albert Crusat fit to take up position on the left wing.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester City have picked up nine points from a possible nine in their opening three games of the season.
  • The Etihad Stadium outfit have scored 12 goals in their Premier League fixtures so far, four times as many than at the same point last season.
  • After conceding only 33 goals in the 2010-11 campaign, the Citizens had the joint strongest defensive record in the league, alongside Chelsea.
  • With six goals in three games, Edin Dzeko (right) is the Premier League's leading scorer.
  • Roberto Mancini's men had the best record in the league against teams in the bottom half in the 2010-11 season.
  • In contrast, Wigan had the worst record against sides in the top half of the league over the last campaign.
  • Roberto Martinez's side have made their best ever Premier League start and are currently unbeaten in the first three games.
  • The Latics scored the second fewest amount of goals in the Premier League last season with 40 and never entered the top half at any point over the campaign.
  • The visitors have failed to score against City in the league since October 2009.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Manchester City FC 3-0 Wigan Athletic
    20.29 %
  • Manchester City FC 4-0 Wigan Athletic
    17.45 %
  • Manchester City FC 3-1 Wigan Athletic
    16.59 %
Head to Head
England - FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ May 11, 2013 Manchester City FC 0 - Wigan Athletic 1
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  • Match Report
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Apr 17, 2013 Manchester City FC 1 - Wigan Athletic 0
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Nov 28, 2012 Wigan Athletic 0 - Manchester City FC 2
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Jan 16, 2012 Wigan Athletic 0 - Manchester City FC 1
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  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Sep 10, 2011 Manchester City FC 3 - Wigan Athletic 0
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  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Manchester City FC
May 19, 2013Manchester City FC 2 - Norwich City 3EPL
May 14, 2013Reading 0 - Manchester City FC 2EPL
May 11, 2013Manchester City FC 0 - Wigan Athletic 1FA
May 7, 2013Manchester City FC 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
May 4, 2013Swansea 0 - Manchester City FC 0EPL
Wigan Athletic
May 19, 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Aston Villa 2EPL
May 14, 2013Arsenal 4 - Wigan Athletic 1EPL
May 11, 2013Manchester City FC 0 - Wigan Athletic 1FA
May 7, 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Swansea 3EPL
May 4, 2013West Bromwich Albion 2 - Wigan Athletic 3EPL
Odds
Returns: Manchester City £11.80 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £360.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Wigan Athletic £810.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Team News
Available Squads
1Joe HartGoalkeeper
22Gael ClichyDefender
4Vincent KompanyDefender
6Joleon LescottDefender
2Micah RichardsDefender
21David SilvaStriker
11Adam JohnsonMidfielder
42Yaya Touré Midfielder
7James MilnerMidfielder
16Sergio AgüeroStriker
32Carlos TévezStriker
30Costel PantilimonGoalkeeper
5Pablo ZabaletaDefender
28Kolo ToureDefender
62Abdul RazakMidfielder
8Samir NasriMidfielder
10Edin DzekoStriker
45Mario BalotelliStriker
26Ali Al HabsiGoalkeeper
31Maynor FigueroaDefender
24Adrián LópezDefender
5Gary CaldwellDefender
17Emmerson BoyceDefender
20Hugo RodallegaStriker
21Mohamed DiameMidfielder
16James McArthurMidfielder
8Ben WatsonMidfielder
13Victor MosesMidfielder
9Franco Di SantoStriker
1Chris KirklandGoalkeeper
23Ronnie StamDefender
6David JonesMidfielder
7Albert CrusatMidfielder
4James McCarthyMidfielder
14Jordi GómezMidfielder
18Conor SammonStriker
Players to Watch
Edin Dzeko
Edin Dzeko
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
32 14 4 0
Those that ridiculed the Bosnian as a waste of money less than six months ago have been noticeable in their silence during the start of the current campaign. With six goals in three games, the £27m signing from Wolfsburg has started to recreate the form that saw him voted Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2009 as well as being a nominee for the Ballon d'Or in the same year.

Coupling brute force with an instinctive eye for goal, the 25-year-old is a nightmare for opposition defenders and with the likes of Kun Aguero, David Silva and Samir Nasri all looking to provide him with chances, the Latics backline could be in for a very busy afternoon in trying to suppress the Premier League's top scorer.
Victor Moses
Victor Moses
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 13
Games Goals YC RC
23 1 0 0
With Roberto Martinez having expressed his desire to extend the contract of the talented 20-year-old, he will be looking to prove to his manager that he's worth a pay rise. An impressive start to the season will have certainly caught the Spaniard's eye, with a virtuoso display against Norwich City on the opening day offering hopes that this could be the youngster's breakthrough season.

Questions remain over Gael Clichy's defensive capabilities and the former Crystal Palace man will look to use his explosive pace and dazzling close control to attack the Frenchman down the channel. If the Latics catch their hosts on the break, Moses could cause some serious damage.
Probable Lineups
Joe Hart 1
Gael Clichy 22
Vincent Kompany 4
Joleon Lescott 6
Micah Richards 2
David Silva 21
Adam Johnson 11
Yaya Touré 42
James Milner 7
Sergio Agüero 16
Carlos Tévez 32
Ali Al Habsi 26
Maynor Figueroa 31
Adrián López 24
Gary Caldwell 5
Emmerson Boyce 17
Hugo Rodallega 20
Mohamed Diame 21
James McArthur 16
Ben Watson 8
Victor Moses 13
Franco Di Santo 9
Prediction
Following a blistering start to the season with a 100 per cent win record thus far, it would be a little too much like the Manchester City of old for Mancini’s side to pick up anything other than a comprehensive victory at home to Wigan Athletic.

With a newfound sense of attacking endeavour in the team providing stark contrast to the often negative displays of 2010-11, the hosts will be looking to dominate at home .

However, there is also a renewed sense of optimism amongst a Latics side that are still unbeaten so far this term and Martinez will look to take the game to their illustrious opponents.

That said, City should be far too powerful for the DW Stadium outfit and won’t hold back when exerting their supremacy. For the visitors, it could be a case of desperately trying to save face.
Editor's Prediction
Manchester City 3
Wigan Athletic 0
Results
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